Education Licensure Candidates During the Time of COVID-19: University Supervisors’ Reflections About the Forgotten Few

Education at K–12 through university levels has faced extraordinary upheaval in the time of COVID-19. As universities and K–12 school systems struggled independently to adapt to rapidly changing demands, teacher and administrator licensure candidates were confronted with unprecedented challenges in both worlds simultaneously. The licensure candidates were the forgotten few, stuck between higher education and K–12 education, while struggling to keep up with the demands of their personal lives and professional futures. With limited guidance from their universities and school systems, licensure candidates turned to their university field placement supervisors for direction. In response, supervisors became adaptive leaders and flexible problem solvers with compassionate hearts focused on supporting candidates’ success against all odds. Through the reflections of university supervisors, this scholarly essay provides a window into the unique experiences of education licensure candidates and their university supervisors as they navigate the worlds of higher education and K–12 education.